LATE RALLY BY RACERS SPOILS STRONG START AS SKYHAWK BASEBALL DROPS SERIES FINALE ON THE ROAD

Saturday, May 8

Murray, Ky.

2 p.m.

UT Martin

15-26, 0

Murray State

26-20, 0

UT Martin

Murray State

Photo by: Dave Winder/MSU Media Relations

LATE RALLY BY RACERS SPOILS STRONG START AS SKYHAWK BASEBALL DROPS SERIES FINALE ON THE ROAD

5/8/2021 9:29:00 PM | Baseball

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MURRAY, Ky. – The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team jumped out to an early lead and took a two-run advantage into the seventh inning before a four-run rally by Murray State down the stretch proved to be the difference in the game as the Racers stole the series finale 6-4 on Saturday afternoon.

The Skyhawks (15-26, 7-14 OVC) scored the first three runs in the contest to chase the Racers' starter out of the contest in the top of the second inning. While the home squad scratched out two runs to cut into the deficit in the fifth inning, the Skyhawks stole a run back in the top of the sixth inning to add to their margin heading into the final stretch.

The momentum turned after the seventh inning stretch however as Murray State took control by scoring two runs in both the seventh and the eighth inning. Not only did the Racers offense ride the wave but the team's pitching staff was lights out by shutting down the Skyhawks at the plate as the squad tallied just one base hit in the final three frames.

UT Martin tallied five hits on the afternoon led by a breakout performance from freshman Nate Self who tallied his first career multi-hit day by going 2-for-4 with a run scored. He was joined in the hit column by Jack Culumovic, Christian Hall and Blake Davis.

Three players drove in runs with Ethan Whitely leading the way with two RBIs while Wil LaFollette and Alec Beaman each added to their season totals.

Junior Nick Wohlbold posted a nice afternoon on the mound in his seventh start of the campaign. Wohlbold pitched 5.0 innings while striking out four and allowed two earned runs while scattering four hits in the no decision. Seth Petry (1-3) was hit with the loss after allowing four earned runs in 2.2 innings of work.

The Skyhawks wasted very little time getting on the board, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Culumovic started it off by working a full-count before hitting a single into center. After a Casey Harford was hit by a pitch and Hall was walked on ensuing at bats, the Skyhawks had a prime scoring opportunity as the bases were loaded with no outs. Just needing to put the ball in play to bring a run home, the pair of LaFollette and Whitley did just that on back-to-back plays with sacrifice flies to right and left field, respectively, to give the visitors an early 2-0 advantage.

UT Martin looked to stay aggressive in the top of the second and add to its margin. In just his second start of the season, Self made the most of his chance and singled through the left side with one out. Once on base, he moved himself into scoring position on a throwing error before later scampering all the way over to third on a wild pitch. With another potential run standing just 90 feet away from home, Beaman put a grounder in play to score Self and push the lead out to three.

The margin would stay the same until the bottom of the fifth when Wohlbold found his first taste of trouble on the afternoon. The Racers found back-to-back base hits by Ryan Perkins and Trey Woosley to place runners on second and third with two outs before a two-run double to left center by Jake Slunder cleared the bases and cut the margin to 3-2.

After giving up the two scores, the Skyhawks quickly worked to get one run back in the following half inning. Hall started out the top of the sixth with a double to right field before moving over to third on the following play. Then it was Whitley who cashed in again with his second sacrifice fly of the afternoon with a deep fly to center to score Hall from third and give the team a two-run cushion.

The game started to turn in the bottom of the seventh when Perkins ripped a leadoff triple to right center followed by a RBI-single by Woosley just two pitches into the frame. The Racers later tied the game up at four runs a piece when Bryson Bloomer singled through the right side.

After tying the game in the seventh inning, the Murray State took its first lead of the day in the eighth but it would be all they needed down the stretch. The half inning started as the leadoff hitter was hit by a pitch before later coming around to score on a double to left center by Alex Crump. With the go-ahead score already crossing the plate, the Racers added another insurance run as Woosley tallied his third hit of the day with a single to right to make it a 6-4 contest.

UT Martin will take a break from the grueling OVC schedule with a non-conference matchup against No. 2 ranked Mississippi State on Tuesday, May 11. First pitch from Starkville, Miss. is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on SEC Network+.